꧁𓊈𒆜"Chapter Twenty One"𒆜𓊉꧂
Drowning in Power

It was obvious that the Serpentine hated us. My Father was using them like slaves. I couldn't really talk, I was ordering them around like no tomorrow, but at least I had the decency to say please.

There was something oddly terrifying with the way he had been acting. Since the Mega Weapon had been destroyed, Father had been acting like nothing was wrong, like he still owned everything and could do anything with the wave of his hand. There's no doubt he could just from the power of fear, but for the last month, he had depended on that weapon.

I watched him now, staring out into the plain sea as the Snake Helicopter flew over the water. He seemed so careless, so at ease.

He had this plan of finding an island, one that would make him stronger, one that would give him an army. I was all for finding it, but I had never heard of such a thing. Was the destruction of The Mega Weapon making him go into a state of psycosis?

I moved from my seat in the corner and stood at his shoulder. It was a little dangerous having the door open, but my Father was eager, maybe too eager to find this island. The ocean air hit my face and I breathed in the salty scent. Maybe after we take over Ninjago I could take a few days off.

"The Endless Sea," He muttered, "I don't get it,"

"We've been searching all day," I agreed, finding it odd too that we hadn't found the island yet.

"It's because there is no land outside of Ninjago," Snike said from behind us.

I turned to glare at him.

"Are you saying we're lying?" I asked softly, but the venom showing in my expression didn't compare to the ones in his fangs.

Father put his hand on my shoulder.

"The island must be out there. We'll do another lap," He finalised, nodding at his own plan.

His hand dropped from my shoulder and I clenched my jaw.

Ash! Please, you have to help me, please.

I took in a sharp breath, shutting my eyes. Clearing my mind usually helped me ground myself and set my mind on more important matters.

Opening them finally, I looked at my Father again who was eagerly peering out to find the island he told the Serpentine so much about.

"Turn around," He demanded, turning to face them himself, "We need to find the island today!

"Yes, Lord Garmadon," Snike nodded obediently, his hands reaching for the controls.

"Ooh, there!" Skales pointed out the door, "Is that the island?"

My eyes dropped from the snake to quickly look out of the door, my Father following close behind me.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, could've prepared me for what happened next. I'd never been betrayed before, Lloyd didn't really count, we were going to make him bad again, so this feeling was foreign.

I felt a cold hand press against my back, and then I was falling. I had no time to react, no time to twist around and tug on my pusher's hand to take them down with me. There was nothing I could've possibly done in this situation.

Swim, swim. I couldn't swim. I'd never learned, I've never even been in a pool of water this big.

My first thought that surrounded my mind when my body collided into the water was that I needed to get back to the top in order to breathe. But how did I do that? The impact had pushed me so low that everything was dark, I didn't know which way was up anymore.

I hadn't had time to take in a breath before I crashed the surface, so my lungs were already burning.

Dad? Where was my Dad? Was he going to save me? I needed my Dad.

I screamed out into the water with what little oxygen I had left. Bubbles floated past me and popped against my face. I felt raw, like my body was being burned. Recently, I'd only ever really considered being burnt by one thing and it wasn't this.

I kicked my legs out, my eyes blackening around the edges. How was my destiny supposed to happen if I died? With a few more sloppy blinks, everything went black.

...

"No!" I screamed, scraping down onto my knees and grabbing his lifeless body.

I pulled him into me, cradling him in my lap, sobbing loudly. The Green on his clothes were hardly visible, completely covered in red and brown now. His black eyes were forced shut, both of his lips were cut open. His once so bright, blonde hair was literally dripping red from the massive gash going across his scalp.

"Ahh!" I gasped my cry, my voice in pure agony as I held his limp form to my chest.

He didn't reply to me, his expression didn't even change. My fingers pressed against the fabric of his Gi. If he'd never been a Ninja, if Wu had never trained him, he'd never be-- he would never of--

"Lloyd no," I whispered brokenly, "Please, I'll help you now, I'm sorry I didn't do it before, I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you. Lloyd please don't leave me, please come back--"

"--come back,"

My ribs heaved heavily as I sobbed over my brother's dead body. My lungs felt like they were being crushed as my breaths were stolen from me as I grieved. I couldn't even breathe properly, it felt like my breath was being stolen. I couldn't move, I could only stare down at his bloody body in my bloody hands.

"Wake up, you need to wake up--"

"--Wake up please. Lloyd I can't do this by myself. Please come back to me Lloyd. Please, I can't... I can't...--"

"--I can't do this without you Son, open your eyes!"

With a gurgle and a heave, my whole body launched forwards into a sitting position. Water poured out of my mouth and I coughed violently. I could only slightly make out the gentle circles being rubbed into my shoulder as I spat out the rest of the water that had infiltrated my lungs.

"That's it," My father assured, leaning forward so he came into view of my blurry vision, "Welcome back Son,"

My lungs still burned as I sucked in the oxygen around me. My eyes watered as I stared back at him and I felt uncomfortable. My clothes were half dry, they were sticking to me in the wrong places and my hair felt like straw in front of my eyes and on my forehead.

"What--" I croaked, having to cough again, "What happened?"

"We were betrayed," He spoke surly, then his expression lightened, "Though I believe we washed up on our destination,"

I brought my sandy hands up to wipe my eyes, blinking away the discomfort then appreciating the fact that I was sitting on a gold Coast. We were on an island alright, this had to be the place, I didn't nearly die for nothing.

"What do we have to find?" I wondered, groaning as I forced myself to kneel as he stood before me.

Father offered his hand to help me up and I took it without a complaint.

"I'm not sure," He admitted, his voice sounding confident despite his confusion, "But Captain Soto's log promised a great power here,"

"How can we trust a pirate?" I huffed, running a hand through my hair, breaking the sand away from it.

"I have faith,"

I gave him a look. Since when was my Father one to believe in the First Spinjitzu Master? Sure, it was his Dad and all, but never in my life had I heard him speak highly of his father.

Maybe losing the Mega Weapon did mess him up.

...

I wasn't sure how long we'd been walking, but it was too long that's for sure. I was hungry, I ached, my lungs felt uncomfortable everytime I took a breath, it was hot and my feet hurt. The ground was uneven and because of my state, I'd become clumsy.

Father on the other hand was the complete opposite. He seemed determined to not let his weakness show, he wanted to find this great power no matter what it took. He didn't even look tired!

"Ah, I've been waiting for you,"

We both froze.

My eyes darted around but I didn't dare move my body. What in the hell was that? Who just spoke. I didn't see anybody, so how did anyone speak to us.

"Who are you?" Father demanded, his voice icy and cold, "Where are you?"

It is the place you were always meant to find. Destiny brought you here," The voice was sinister, but something about it made me intrigued.

"Who are you?" He repeated, ignoring the strange words.

Destiny?

"I go by many names, but you may call me 'Overlord',"

As it finished speaking, a glowing-- yes, glowing-- orb came out from between the trees. I stared at it with blown open eyes. What in the FSM was this?

My father didn't seem phased at all by the creature. He'd probably seen a lot weirder things in his lifetime.

"I order you to give me the power to defeat the ninja. Give me the power to turn Ninjago into my own image!" Father demanded, walking up to the bolt of colour.

"Soon," The Overlord brushed off his demands, "You will have everything you desire in due time, but first, there is something you and your son must do for me,"

Goosebumps rose on my arms. How did he know we were related? How did he know me?

I wanted to say something, to defend myself since I felt threatened though no words came out. I clenched my jaw and watched the creature. I couldn't name it, nothing was coming to mind as to what this thing could possibly be. Overlord. What was that?

"What?" Father glowered.

"Follow me and you will find out,"

Father and I shared a look. Should we really follow it? But it offered us everything we desired! It offered us all we could ever want. Father and I both settled to the same choice at the same time.

We quickly followed behind the Overlord, wondering where it was we were going.

It didn't take long at all. The trees around us became more spaced out until we entered a small clearing. Directly in the middle was a boulder with four indents in the middle. I rose an eyebrow. What this thing playing us? How did he know everything?

"Four hands. Is that a coincidence?" Father scoffed, I was impressed at our same thought process.

"I told you, it is destiny," The Overlord's voice sounded sassy, "You must turn the switches and your son must promise his loyalty to me,"

I stared at the strange being, then to my Father who was looking at me expectantly. He was offering us the power to take over Ninjago, when we're we going to get a chance like that again?

"I will be loyal to you Overlord," I spoke confidently, "As long as you keep your end of the promise,"

The Overlord hummed appreciatively. My Father nodded at me, then pressed his four hands into the four slots on the Stone slab and rotated the switches.

It was like I was trapped in some sort of dream, because my mind suddenly became cloudy and the feelings of my fingers drifted away. I blinked blankly, staring at my Father who turned to copy my expression.

And then the feeling vanished.

What was that?

"The ultimate battle between good and evil has been foretold. And with your help, we will rule this world!" The Overlord laughed, the sound of it was strong.

We?

...

"My master plan has been in the works since the beginning of time," The Overlord spoke slowly as we climbed a mountain, "Every piece moves in perfect harmony like the gears of clock, slowly shifting the balance of power back to darkness. Every piece, that is, but you two,"

The last step of the climb was such a relief that I nearly didn't care for his words, though I began to care when I saw what was in front of me.

It was gorgeous. I'd never seen anything like it before. A Celestial Clock sat in the middle of a metal slab in the ground, each rod poking into a different direction. Orbs of gold orbited around the peice, I was stunned.

"What is this?"

"This clock was created to countdown to the Final Battle. Once one takes the Helmet of Shadows, the clock will start," Overlord explained.

I watched my Father eagerly take to the stand, his hand reaching out for the helmet in the middle.

I clenched my jaw. This thing counted down to the Final Battle? The one that involved Lloyd?

Good. It was time I taught that little shit a lesson.

"But be warned," Overlord's voice cut through my father's close call to euphoric power, "Though he who wears the Helmet of Shadows can travel between the Islands at will, once it is removed, the countdown cannot be stopped,"

"Any more warnings?" Father's dismissive tone made me smirk.

The creature didn't respond so Father's stepped forward. His fingers gripped the metal and then he pulled it off it's stand. The Celestial Clock dinged as it moved for the first time. Father crowned himself with the helmet.

"At last, the countdown to the Final Battle has begun. This helmet is your birthright. With it, you have control of the army,"

My ears picked up. An army? Father controlled an army now? It wasn't going to betray us right?

"What army?" He took the words right out of my mouth.

"My army," The Overlord laughed again and this time Father joined in.

I watched them, a slow smile appearing on my lips.

Lloyd was going to get what was coming for him.

Okay, only 2 more chapters left of season 2 and I'm so excited because they're so good.

Next chapter is a long one folks so get ready for a whole lot of trouble, angst and heartbreak!!